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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationVictoria needs to adopt agreed national transition date on engineered stone ban
Victoria needs to adopt agreed national transition date on engineered stone ban
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“However, with Victoria looking to adopt the ban ahead of other states and with little implementation time, it will leave industry in an extremely challenging position,” HIA Executive Director – Victoria Keith Ryan, said today.
“The issue of working with engineered stone is one HIA takes extremely seriously and are supportive of the need to minimise the potential exposure of workers to harmful levels of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), particularly when working with engineered stone.
“In December 2023 WHS Ministers agreed to ban the use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone, however, how this would be implemented was unclear.
“At Friday’s meeting it was encouraging that Ministers have now come to an agreement to define what products can be specified, supplied, and used into homes.
“Ministers also determined an indicative timeframe for the ban which was to honour contracts entered into prior to the end of last year and for those projects to be able to completed post the 1 July 2024 date, which is a sensible approach.
“Disappointingly, it appears that Victoria will not be following the approach of other states and territory Governments and instead will forge ahead with no transition or acknowledgement of contracts already entered into prior to Ministers decision on the ban.
“HIA urges the Victorian Government to reconsider this decision and provide industry and consumers a reasonable time frame that causes the least disruption and impact to both consumers and industry.
“Furthermore, the timeframe need to ensure industry has adequate time to adapt, and to make necessary adjustments to plans and manufacturing processes as well as access alternate benchtop products to build the high volume of much-needed Victorian homes that the Government has committed to.
“It is critical now that the Victorian Governments provide a detailed industry transition and communications plan that addresses these matters as soon as possible,” concluded Mr Ryan.
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